South Western Railway (SWR) and Network Rail have launched a trial of innovative thermal imaging technology to detect track issues before they cause delays to train services.

Passengers on the SWR network may notice ‘Hotshot’, a newly named Class 450 train equipped with cameras to monitor infrastructure in real time. A thermal imaging camera at the front scans the tracks for electrical problems, while a camera underneath monitors the shoe gear and third rail that power the train.

The data captured provides engineers with immediate alerts to potential faults such as overheating or faulty connections, helping to reduce maintenance costs, improve safety, and minimise disruption. On average, the issues that Hotshot aims to detect can lead to around 200 minutes of delays, while more serious conductor rail faults have previously caused delays exceeding 2,000 minutes.

The trial represents the first time round-the-clock monitoring has been deployed across the majority of SWR’s network, which serves Central London and routes into Surrey, Hampshire, Berkshire, and Dorset. An earlier, smaller-scale trial successfully resolved a fault near Ashtead in Surrey within 48 hours with no impact on passengers, compared with a previous similar fault that caused 2,500 minutes of delays.

Rail Minister Lord Hendy said:

“This Government is fundamentally reforming how our railways are run - creating a network that works better for the people and freight using it. The cutting-edge technology that the integrated South Western Railway is trialling is key to achieving this and will serve as an example of the kinds of smart investments publicly owned rail companies can implement to improve services for passengers. Upgrades like this will prevent disruption and reduce delays - supporting growth, jobs and homes as part of the Government’s plan to deliver an efficient and reliable railway."

Neil Drury, Engineering and Infrastructure Director at SWR, added:

“Much like our famous ‘Flying Banana’ train which helps monitor the tracks, you can now look out for Hotshot. We hope this innovative collaboration between SWR, Network Rail, Angel Trains and our other partners will identify potential infrastructure issues before they escalate, helping to reduce disruption on the network and keep our customers moving.”

Barry Fox, Head of Product Management at Angel Trains, said:

“We’re proud to be supporting the introduction of this technology on passenger trains. Continuous monitoring of the infrastructure offers real value in helping deliver a more reliable railway for passengers. This has been made possible by working closely with our customers and suppliers to deliver a fully integrated solution.”

The project is a joint initiative between SWR, Network Rail, and industry partners Angel Trains, One Big Circle, Siemens, and dg8 Design. Funded and managed by Angel Trains, the year-long trial could see the technology rolled out to other trains in the SWR fleet if successful. The Hotshot trial follows a similar thermal imaging monitoring expansion by South Eastern Railway, which serves South East London, Kent, and parts of East Sussex.

Image: Network Rail